1. when NCL Bliss came to Seattle, we were expecting Epic kind of service or amenities. But the Bliss was way worse than what we were expected. we paid $9000 for 4 of us in same room, the room doesn't have enough closet space or ... Read More

1. when NCL Bliss came to Seattle, we were expecting Epic kind of service or amenities. But the Bliss was way worse than what we were expected. we paid $9000 for 4 of us in same room, the room doesn't have enough closet space or drawers for our close, have to 2 of us has to use our luggage, placing at the middle of the room. 2. can you imagine the Specialty Restaurant served the exact same dish as regular Main Dining Room? ( in this case is La Bistro & Manhattan), it's a rip off. we were on Heaven Category so we got to dine at Heaven Restaurant but the quality was not as good as before, NCL used to serve special meals for each destination like Mediterranean Cruise with Seafood, Alaska Cruise with King crab leg, but with the Bliss none of those (even with Pearl, they don't serve it any more) and the selections are getting scares ..... 3. the dining room hours are so limited you have to rush yourself......... otherwise you end up eating in your tiny room....... the Concierge wasn't helpful unless you pile up the green notes upfront....... very realistic.
I do give extra tips for those who worked behind the scene, wait staffs or housekeeper daily...... they are hard workers and were almost at the point being abused by NCL
the Only reason I chose NCL is because of my MOM, who is wheelchair-bound, I like the free style..... but the Bliss isn't made for , or accommodated for Handicapped persons. Showroom alone is not made for one...... the wheelchair area were not made for watching the show unless you are really tall, my Mon can sit there but can only watch the wall in front of her..... the rest of the handicapped seats are those 2 rows down the stairs and only have one opening out........ not recommended.....
One more thing, you have to check your bill diligently or NCL tend to over charge you unless you complaine. Read Less

We chose the Bliss because of all the amazing videos we saw and everything we heard from our travel agent. I will start with the positives:
- If you're a single or older couple with no kids, this cruise MAY be for you
- Good ... Read More

We chose the Bliss because of all the amazing videos we saw and everything we heard from our travel agent. I will start with the positives:
- If you're a single or older couple with no kids, this cruise MAY be for you
- Good options for entertainment
- Paid/ upcharge restaurants were definitely better than included ones
- Alaska ports made the trip worthwhile
Now, for the things we do not like and why we will never choose Norweigan again:
- Maybe because the Bliss is so new, this could explain the utter lack of organization of the staff
- Food at Buffet, Taste/Savor (same food) and Manhattan was very mediocre (at best) with no place to sit in the buffet restaurant
- Our room (10-154) had a horrible banging/knocking in the walls and for 3 straight nights I go ZERO sleep, for a vacation it was unbearable
- The spa passes were pointless and way over priced (again with kids, it's very difficult to coordinate since the kids clubs closes for 2 hours chucks all through the day)
- The arcade and bowling machines will charge you repeatedly whether you used/ played the machine or not (and the way we were treated when we brought up an extra $6 charge was atrocious...)
-Staff on cruise aren't empowered to do anything. So, if you have issues you have to write a complaint post cruise and they say it takes up to 15 business days to get a response
- The app is trash and they charge you $9.95 per person to use it
- Most things were constantly closed down (laser tag, mini golf and race track) which attracted us in the first place
- Most things on ship are an extra cost so it's a constant nickel and diming vacation
- Not a lot of family friendly activities
- Havanah was just awful (as you will see in every other review) but there was really no need for the actors to light up real cigarettes in Jersey Boys (it was disgusting and made the whole theater smell)
- The common spaces like the observation area are ALWAYS packed and people put their gross feet on the furniture and no rules are enforced. NOTE: We had a balcony but if you get an inside cabin it will be very hard for you to find a "common space" to relax and enjoy when there is anything to see outside
- No drawers/ clothing space for fmaily with kids (if you're just 2 people, I imagine the closet space would be fine
- The worst traffic flow I've ever seen on a ship. Elevators are always packed and no one wants to make space for new people (so you will be climbing 5-10 flights of stairs all the time to get where you need to go)
- Captain decided to not go to the glacier which was a huge selling point for us. Given all the equipment they have on board it was more of an issues of not “wanting” to rather that not being able to. Why not save their gas and effort, right? We literally turned around.
Overall, this is a cruise where the food is bad, few options for families, the staff is not empowered to make anything right which means absolute HORRIBLE or non-existent customer service, over-crowded ship with poorly planned traffic flow, this was not a vacation this was a total disappointment. As with anything, we have each other so spending time together was the best part but I would not waste money with Norweigan (they appear economical but after being charged for EVERY SINGLE THING) they are way more pricey. I will be booking with Disney Cruise from now on until kids are older (they have exquisite food, service and pretty much everything is outstanding). Read Less

This was our third NCL cruise. We were extremely disappointed in the ship. It is huge and you walk forever. Mind you, if you are young and adventurous this is great, but older seniors need to be aware. The elevators cannot maintain the ... Read More

This was our third NCL cruise. We were extremely disappointed in the ship. It is huge and you walk forever. Mind you, if you are young and adventurous this is great, but older seniors need to be aware. The elevators cannot maintain the 4000 people on board, and people push and shove to get off and on.
Unruly children run around all hours of the night, without parental supervision. Parents expect the staff to babysit.
Jersey boys was amazing, but the other adult entertainment had a cover charge.
Dining package- cover charge at every restaurant in addition
Drink package- covers anything under $10, additional tax added when in Seattle port
Margaritaville- cover charge to eat there
Garden cafe buffet- never had enough seating available. Same food every day for breakfast and lunch
Cabin steward- greeted us on arrival and we never saw him again. We had to ask to have our room done about 3 times. Never left ice at night, but always made a "towel animal"
Elevators- not enough to handle the amount of people. Mass chaos during safety drill, port excursions, and disembarkation. No handicap accessible elevator for the scooters, wheelchairs, etc.
Plenty for the young generation of cruisers to do, however they neglected the seniors.
Investigate this. Raise before you sign on, Sometimes "bigger isn't always better"! Read Less

Chose this cruise because our last NCL trip was so good. This shop was to big. Getting around was difficult and elevators hard to get on for baby stroller and senior with a walker. People were rude. All of the entertainment was booked ... Read More

Chose this cruise because our last NCL trip was so good. This shop was to big. Getting around was difficult and elevators hard to get on for baby stroller and senior with a walker. People were rude. All of the entertainment was booked up the first day but we feel we paid for something we didn't experience. Kids were very disappointed. And don't waste your money on specialty food package, it was a waste. If you want service you must tip more than the 20% they already add in. Most of the staff was great but people at service desk seemed bothered by questions. Many people didn't want kids on board and it seemed a conflict in some places to have kids. I can also see where the idea of ugly American came from, old white people can't hardly hide their disdain for foreign and minority travelers and I am an old white guy. Read Less

The Bliss is not handicap friendly.
If you are on a scooter or in a wheelchair, with no companion traveling with you. It's almost impossible to get into the forward elevators. The busy areas, like the buffet, pool area and ... Read More

The Bliss is not handicap friendly.
If you are on a scooter or in a wheelchair, with no companion traveling with you. It's almost impossible to get into the forward elevators. The busy areas, like the buffet, pool area and observation lounge are all above the room decks from mid ship to the front of the ship. Also, below these room are disembarking/embarking at all ports, the atrium and the theater. The elevators seemed to always be packed by the time they get to the room decks. If you are on a scooter or wheelchair. You have to wait through so many elevators to get one that you could fit into. I had to wait as long as a half hour at times. I found kids playing on the elevators, pushing all the buttons, and totally rude people that would crowd past the scooter I was on, leaving me stranded again.
The buttons to open sliding doors are mainly in the center of glass doors. On a scooter you can't reach over the front of scooter to reach the button. If you pull up sideways to push them. You can't get backed around fast enough to go through before the door closes again. Smoking casino has no button to push at all. You have to just sit in front of the glass doors and wait for someone to go in or go out, to hold the door open for you.
Many of the handicap Restrooms have doors that open outward. When you get close enough to push the button you have to try to backup fast enough so that the door slams into you (which happens often) then you need re-aim your scooter to get in. Hope you don't have to go bad.
The exclusive place that rents scooters to NCL, tell you that they will fit in a regular balcony room. Well, it was in the room when I got there, but, I couldn't get past it into the room. The scooter also wouldn't go anywhere but just inside the door. It took 3 crew members to get it out of there. They ended out scraping up the door and the metal door frame in the process. Larger scooters will only go into a handicap room.
Almost all big restaurants are at the very back of the ship. I found it easier to get to deck 8 and drive down the outside Waterfront to get to the aft part of ship. As we had a very windy, rainy trip, if wasn't a pleasant ride.
This weather caused closing a lot of the activities on top decks which left the rest of the ship very congested and lots of children running around unsupervised.
Also, for handicapped people that choose rooms close to elevators. Be aware that the room do not have good sound proofing. The kids are playing and running up and down the stairs and halls till late at night. It will be heard in your room.
I would advise that handicap or elderly, go on the smaller NCL ships, like the Jewel or Pearl. I always cruise on NCL and will continue to do so. This was just too much ship for me without a companion that could help me through doors and congested area. Also, in the buffet, you are unable to reach things like glasses and cups for your drinks. Someone missed the boat (ship) when they did the designing for the handicapped on this ship. It is a beautiful ship though. But, I feel it was designed for the younger class of people.
Excursions are misleading when they say they have handicap access. Make sure if you can't get out of your wheelchair or walk some, that they have lifts on their shuttles and area inside to park you, etc. Please continue cruising on NCL but maybe a smaller one. Read Less

We had loved Alaska on two previous cruises, (NCL Pearl in 2010 and NCL Star in 2004). On this cruise it was cold and rainy so; Everyone stayed inside. Ship was packed at all times. Most people were in the Observation Lounge. You could not ... Read More

We had loved Alaska on two previous cruises, (NCL Pearl in 2010 and NCL Star in 2004). On this cruise it was cold and rainy so; Everyone stayed inside. Ship was packed at all times. Most people were in the Observation Lounge. You could not find seating in The Garden Buffet. We spent a lot of time waiting for an elevator...Only two elevator banks for a ship this size. Could not traverse to the Sawyer Glacier. Did not see much of the beauty that I had witnessed the previous two cruises in Glacier Bay. Disembarkation was incredibly bad...Walked the entire ship three times to get off. NCL doesn't have a clue how to deal with their Elderly Clients that may have severe walking disabilities. Atrium was packed all of the time so you could not stay there. Can they not hold any of the events elsewhere? Jersey Boys sucks...Have seen the Production on other ships and was really disappointed. Walked out of Havana! All in all a very pricey cruise that basically sucked!!! Read Less

My wife and I just returned from this Alaskan Cruise in late August. We both have mixed reviews. There is a lot to like about this ship - it's new, it's clean, it's got a wonderful spa and thermal area! We also paid the ... Read More

My wife and I just returned from this Alaskan Cruise in late August. We both have mixed reviews. There is a lot to like about this ship - it's new, it's clean, it's got a wonderful spa and thermal area! We also paid the premium rate to stay in the VIP section called the Haven. Definitely worth the extra $$. The Haven has it's own dining room with excellent dinner and breakfast and ok lunch. You also have your own indoor pool area and outdoor sun deck with hot tub, which we used a lot. The Haven guests have their own separate observation room, consierge desk and bar area. You also get special access when getting on and off the ship using the crew elevators so you can really avoid the big crowds that are in the general population onboard. So, if you're going to do this boat, I highly recommend the Haven experience...otherwise this is a very very crowded ship.
In terms of excursions, we did the Mendenhall Glacier and whale watch which I rate a 7 of 10, we also did the helicopter, hike and train glacier experience in Skagway which i rate a 8/10, if you are in shape for the hike of 6 miles.
We saw the Jersey Boys show and it was excellent but it only played for two nights and the rest of the trip was void of any really good entertainment. We both had massages at the spa and were very pleased, but the best part of the spa is the (extra charge $) Thermal suite which was never too crowded and had a wonderful sauna, steam room, salt room, and pretty cool massaging pool area. Besides the Haven restaurant, we ate a several specialty dining places including the seafood restaurant (excellent), the steak house (very good) and the french restaurant (excellent dover sole). But there arent many restaurants that are always open on this ship, so we had to do the garden buffet once or twice just to get some late lunch and it is a massive food trough. As far as the schedule, there is a whole lot of onboard ship time on this cruise. And with a lack of activities and entertainment, you can get bored. One stop in Victoria was at 8pm at night, for only 2.5 hours! Ketchikan was only half day and it took 48 hours from getting on the ship to getting off at the first port in Juneau. So the negatives are the crowd size, elevator wait times, the lack of activities and entertainment and limited port times. The positives mostly are due to the Haven experience we had. Alaska is wonderful and so beautiful! Read Less

came along as a group of 25. wish we had chosen either another ship or different time of year to sail. my least favorite of all cruises i have been on. second cruise to alaska. suffice it to say, i am not a megaship kind of cruiser. ... Read More

came along as a group of 25. wish we had chosen either another ship or different time of year to sail. my least favorite of all cruises i have been on. second cruise to alaska. suffice it to say, i am not a megaship kind of cruiser. breakfast in the buffet? good luck finding a table. dinner at the buffet? good luck finding a table. oh...and reserve everything beforehand. everything. i am not that kind of planner...if you are, you are a good fit for this ship. while it is perhaps well suited for others, the layout of the ship with all activities taking place in the atrium is not my cup of tea. you cannot hear anything at the guest services or excursion desk if you are trying to get info. too loud from the game shows and other stuff going on. the plus side is everything you might want to do is very centralized on decks 6, 7 and 8. smallest mini suite cabin i have ever had and most expensive cruise i have ever taken. seriously not worth what i spent. the ports are beautiful, but owing to a medical emergency the night before, our time in ketchikan was cut to about 3 hrs . good thing we had been there before and knew exactly where we wanted to go. elevators had quite the wait. disembarkation was one of the worst experiences if not THE worst of any ship i have sailed. 1.5 hrs just off the thing, never mind the almost 1hr wait for our bus transfer to the airport. can't help that...the traffic in seattle is a cluster you know what on cruise days. choose another port to sail from...seriously...if you are not big on being patient. will i sail her again? nope. will i sail any megaship again? nope. Read Less

This cruise was chosen because we were traveling with another couple. We have only been on one other cruise (Royal Caribbean) but I would have to say it was only average. Royal Caribbean has better food and excursions. The food was ... Read More

This cruise was chosen because we were traveling with another couple. We have only been on one other cruise (Royal Caribbean) but I would have to say it was only average. Royal Caribbean has better food and excursions. The food was somewhat disappointing in quality, desserts especially. The employees were mostly very friendly and helpful.We did have frustrating problems with the internet and texting on the app.Texting cost $10 per person and was not worth it because it did not work well. I spent too much of my vacation in the guest services line for help with problems. The entertainment on board was excellent! Jersey Boys was the best, Also saw Havana! and Beatles tribute band. Even the various singers throughout the ship were really good. Be prepared to use the stairs due to elevators always full. Excursions were disappointing except for the train ride in Skagway. Don't miss it! Cabin with balcony was not worth the extra cost. Getting on and off the ship went fairly smooth. Some of the activities were not planned well for seating of passengers. Norwegian is just average. Read Less

I had heard so much great stuff advertised about this wonderful new ship. It had been a few years since I had been on a cruise but never cruised with Norwegian. My daughters and I were excited about our trip to Seattle and then Alaska.
... Read More

I had heard so much great stuff advertised about this wonderful new ship. It had been a few years since I had been on a cruise but never cruised with Norwegian. My daughters and I were excited about our trip to Seattle and then Alaska.
The embarkation and disembarkation process was very organized and went by smoothly. The disembarkation was great because we had a group of 5 and were lucky to have help getting our luggage and through customs in less than 20 minutes.
Ship
The Bliss is beautiful and the amenities are great but I would not say that it was any different than other cruise ships. Some of the reasons why we were looking forward to it was so that we could try the go-karting or laser tag. However, it's nearly impossible to book a time unless you do it as soon as you step foot in the ship. They also need to be better about advising passengers about weather and temperatures.
Cabin
Our cabin was nice and meant to fit up to 5. However, I think the cabin is of good size if there are small children in the group. I was told 5 adults would fit comfortably and that was very deceiving. There was my sister, my three daughters (two teens and one over 21) and myself. We traveled with one to two medium sized luggages each. It was a task trying to fit all the luggages in closet areas so that we could have space to walk.
Dining
We had to dine in the complimentary dining restaurant the entire trip. The food and service at the restaurants was good, for the most part. Some of the staff in the buffet style cafe seemed overworked and not friendly. We were unable to get reservations at any of the specialty dining restaurants. Also, it was difficult in finding healthy meal options and non-dairy milk. At one time, I requested a vegan meal option and was told that their fruit salad was an option. However, when we dined at a restaurant named Taste, we had a great server that knew I was looking for special meal options and he was always prepared with the options when we dined there.
Entertainment and Activities
The entertainment put on by the staff is fun and nice to watch. Again, it was impossible to book reservations for things like painting of canvases. Even though it is at an additional cost, they only have about two or three sessions during the entire cruise and maybe 10-12 open spots. The go-cart and laser tag was completely booked. When we attempted to book a time, on the second day, we were told they were fully booked for the remainder of the cruise. I purchased an Ultimate Arcade package for my teenage daughter and it was a waste. There are not many games that can be played using the package. Most kids will be in there with the same package and do not move from the machines, and no one is there to tell them to allow others a turn.
We booked our shows - Havana (average) and Jersey Boys (great) as soon as reservations opened up.
Service
For the most part, the service was good.
Ports and Shore Excursions
We did the Alaskan - Inside passage (Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan and British Columbia, Victoria, Seattle). We were very happy with our excursion experiences. In Juneau, it was raining when we arrived but we enjoyed our trip to Mendenhall Glacier. We had plenty of time to enjoy the downtown area as well. Skagway was very nice and we enjoyed the White Pass Scenic Railroad Excursion. Make sure to bring snacks if you do this one. The day at sea (Glacier Bay) was amazing. The views are amazing from anywhere in the ship. It was great that they had a park ranger come on board and explain all about the national parks. The stop in Ketchikan, if you do an excursion, is just not enough. We would have liked more time to explore the downtown / port area. We were really disappointed with the port stop at British Columbia. We were allowed to get off the ship at 8:30pm and were expected to be back on board by 11:30pm. By the time you arrive at the port and walk to nearby locations, most shops are closing down. We walked to Chinatown which was a 30 minute walk and everything was closed. We wished that this information was provided to us on the ship.
I am not sure if I would travel with Norwegian again but overall it was a wonderful trip and experience. Read Less

I choose the Bliss to Alaska because I have sailed on Norwegian many times and really like it. I am very disappointed in this ship especially for what we paid for it. First, the entertainment was very subpar. I am not a prude but the ... Read More

I choose the Bliss to Alaska because I have sailed on Norwegian many times and really like it. I am very disappointed in this ship especially for what we paid for it. First, the entertainment was very subpar. I am not a prude but the language in Jersey Boys is totally uncalled for, especially with the majority of people sailing in their 70’s and 80”s. The Havana show was lack luster. And, you had to make reservations for EVERYTHING and most things were sold out. Totally uncalled for. Plus, you had to pay extra to see one of their shows. The observation deck was fantastic and the bar staff was excellent. This area provided a great view of the Alaskan scenery.
It seemed that all NCL wants to do is sell you something. And, the activities to do were very boring. You even had to make reservations for the go kart track and laser tag which there were no spots left. Spa was way overpriced.
Cabin staff were very accommodating. And, the staff was very accommodating and helpful for handicapped individuals.
I will sail Norwegian again but no ton the Bliss. Read Less

This review was sent directly to Norwegian as well.
Some background: My 84 year old mother booked this trip for her four children and their spouses (10 of us in total) as a last special family vacation. All but two in the group are ... Read More

This review was sent directly to Norwegian as well.
Some background: My 84 year old mother booked this trip for her four children and their spouses (10 of us in total) as a last special family vacation. All but two in the group are over 60, all are retired. My mother has 200 plus days at sea and my wife and I have at least 150 days at sea now with several other cruise lines, so we all pretty much know the ropes and our way around a ship. The new Bliss was supposed to be a huge step up in cruise ships with numerous new amenities and with all the media hype, that is why my mother choose NCL over Princess and was willing to pay thousands of dollars more for the total package. None of us are not hard to please and generally we all just go along with whatever comes our way, but considering what was paid and expected, this was not the best experience or value.
So why did I rate my overall experience as “fair” in response to your survey:
First - you booked our cruise at a significantly higher rate than comparable cruises to the same destinations. When she was booking the cruise, I reminded my mother that we should all get senior discounts and that two of us were eligible for veteran’s discounts or cabin credits. She told me then that you had denied all senior discounts/cabin credits and disabled veteran qualifications for this particular ship. I personally contacted Norwegian Customer Service about it in writing and was promised a response within a few business days. What I got was a call from an unintelligible oriental woman about two weeks before we sailed saying something to the effect that my concern had been forwarded somewhere. We still have not received any contact or resolution from anyone at NCL. You over charged for shore excursions. I say this because six of the ten of us have sailed to Alaska within the past few years on different cruise lines and took some of the same excursions. You also required that we pay months advance. No other cruise line has ever done that to us. You advertised a go-cart track and a laser tag game that were both completely booked by the first morning and remained so for the duration of the cruise. We were told we could stand in line each day on the happen stance that someone might not show up. We tried for 5 weeks in advance of the cruise to sign up for shows which should have been not only free, but also “first come – first served”. Those too were completely booked and none of us could reserve anything except The Jersey Boys, so that was the only show we saw. (On a side note: The Jersey Boys were absolutely phenomenal!) Our cabin steward was a total no show for the duration of the cruise. On the third day out we ran out of tissues and called House Keeping. The person that brought them to us turned out to be our steward. He knocked, introduced himself, handed us the tissues and then turned and left. About 5 seconds. That was the entirety of our association with the cabin steward, though he did maintain the room satisfactorily. While we are on the subject of the cabin, they are small and cramped, the beds are hard and uncomfortable and your closets do not accommodate the standard hangers which we brought from home for our formal clothing. The dining rooms were nice and a couple even had large windows which made the experience nicer when you managed to get a window seat. Steaks/carved meats in the buffet and The Manhattan dining room were horrid, tough and gristly every single time we ordered them. This was not just me, but voiced by every person in the group of ten. The Garden Buffet was generally an acceptable place to eat with tasty food and a nice variety, though several times we had to take our meals back to the room because there was absolutely no seating available anywhere in the vicinity of the dining room. The best meals were served in the Specialty dining rooms, though every single meal we took on the ship with the exception of the Garden Buffet took two full hours from the time we sat down until the dessert was served. We could never understand why service was so slow. The only time we were ever offered coffee before, during or after our meal was in the Le Bistro. Otherwise, the wait staff never came around so we could ask and we had to flag them down for refills on things like iced tea though they refilled water without request. Alcohol was grossly overpriced on this ship and since we did not choose the unlimited drink option, we had few. Also, the value of your bingo and slot tournaments was pitiful based on the prize money. Enough said there.
In general, the new Bliss is an average appearing ship with basic amenities available without reservations. We have sailed on several new inaugural ships with both Carnival and Princess. Their ships add sparkle and glamour to their décor. They also provide enough elevators to move passengers between decks without excessive waiting. Where are the Bliss elevators? You have only two banks of elevators on this massive ship carrying up to 4,000 passengers. Even Carnival has four additional glass elevators in the atriums of their larger ships. The Bliss was clean and well run; the staff was friendly and polite. I am sorry to have vented so much, but our week on your new ship was somewhat disappointing and my mother now wishes she would have booked us on Princess. It is unlikely we will recommend NCL to our friends or other family members based upon our experience and the poor value provided. Read Less

We wanted to do something memorable to celebrate our "fifty years" of marriage. We chose the Norwegian Bliss Alaskan Cruise that was advertised by our local Senior Center. We chose a balcony cabin to enhance the scenic enjoyment ... Read More

We wanted to do something memorable to celebrate our "fifty years" of marriage. We chose the Norwegian Bliss Alaskan Cruise that was advertised by our local Senior Center. We chose a balcony cabin to enhance the scenic enjoyment of our trip. The accommodations were tight due to the two large bags of luggage that we brought on board. The complimentary dining facilities were excellent and the staff members were very pleasant and highly profession. Completely unlike the attitudes of some of the staff in the specialty restaurants. The food choices were excellent. Our cabin steward (Max) made us feel right at home. His professional attitude and sense of humor put the icing on the cake. Some of the shore excursions seemed a bit pricey, as well as the photo packages that were offered. The rain and sleet in Juneau put a damper on our sightseeing experience, however the "Observation Deck" was a good place to relax and entertain friends. Read Less

I love cruises and take one a year. A friend encouraged me to go to Alaska next and soon after this conversation, I received a notice from NCL announcing The Bliss which was still being built.
The Bliss is a very large ship, almost too ... Read More

I love cruises and take one a year. A friend encouraged me to go to Alaska next and soon after this conversation, I received a notice from NCL announcing The Bliss which was still being built.
The Bliss is a very large ship, almost too large. The elevators were a nightmare during what we call normal hours. There were times when I had trouble finding a place to sit in The Garden Cafe and could not get any machines in the exercise room. NCL built a very large ship with more staterooms but seemed to cut back on the public places.
The food in The Garden Cafe was excellent. I never ate anywhere else.
Entertainment was good even though I am not a fan of musicals.
It was cold and guests actually swam in the pool and got in the hot tub. There was no problem as there sometimes is when sailing in warmer weather. You could get in. I did not.
The scenery was magnificent -- really beautiful. The ports were all great. The weather was cool but mostly comfortable and dry except for the inside passage and Juneau, Then it was cold and wet and uncomfortable. Read Less

Chose this cruise line for the freestyle, casual set up. Really worked for us. Overall a good experience. The service was superb and very professional.
The cabin was well appointed - lots of well thought out storage. The staff ... Read More

Chose this cruise line for the freestyle, casual set up. Really worked for us. Overall a good experience. The service was superb and very professional.
The cabin was well appointed - lots of well thought out storage. The staff visited the cabins twice a day to ensure everything was in order.
Some food concerns, although most was very good. All the food had way too much salt.
Went to a few of the specialty restaurants. In Cagney's the lobster bisque was bad tomato soup with two tough pieces of lobster. In Teppanyaki, the scallops were inedible rubber and the chef didn't even register that nobody ate them nor did he offer anything else.
The Garden Buffet was lovely - lots of choices and had late night snacks.
There was not enough time in most of the ports to see the town if you also did excursions.
Bingo was fun but way overpriced. Was difficult to get into some of the entertainment.
Way too much focus on selling stuff on board and in ports. Read Less

We did this cruise to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Had our two sons and family with us.
It was hard to get reservations in specialty restaurants. Impossible to book prior to cruise. Was successful after we boarded but lines were ... Read More

We did this cruise to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. Had our two sons and family with us.
It was hard to get reservations in specialty restaurants. Impossible to book prior to cruise. Was successful after we boarded but lines were ridiculously long and spaces limited.
The Bliss is a beautiful ship but very big and it was easy to get lost. No personal deck maps seemed to be available.
Juneau stop needs to be longer. Skip Victoria. Kind of a buzzkill. And it was $15 per person to get a shuttle from ship to town. Two miles each way too far to walk for most. Nothing much to see either.
Upcharges for some adult events are expensive—i.e. $20 per person for wine tasting even with purchased adult bev pkg.
The observation deck on the Bliss is fabulous for viewing the seas and for whale watching.
We enjoyed three of the specialty restaurants. Cagney’s, Le Bistro, and Q Texas Smokehouse. The food was delicious in all three. However, I wish they would have areas of adult seating available so that those of us without children did not have to endure crying and loud kids. Also Q’s advertises music and dancing, which did not happen. Disappointed at that.
It was a fun cruise. Good service. Getting on and off the ship was easier than expected.
The seven days just went by too fast. Read Less

we just returned from our cruise with ncl bliss. i just wanted to say if you use a mobility scooter and are concerned about getting around with the scooter in ketchikan, juneau, skagway or victoria dont be. we traveled to these ports. my ... Read More

we just returned from our cruise with ncl bliss. i just wanted to say if you use a mobility scooter and are concerned about getting around with the scooter in ketchikan, juneau, skagway or victoria dont be. we traveled to these ports. my husband and granddaughter went their own way and i was by myself with the scooter. ketchikan i took myself up to creek street and while i didnt see salmon there i walked up a street on the left followed the stream up and the salmon. went way up past where all the people were and there they were thousands of salmon. wonderful site! in skagway i took the ocean raft wildlife adventure. these ladies went out of their way to make sure i was able to walk (which i couldnt) and brought the bus where they could. in juneau i went to mendenhall glacier. the bus drivers took the scooter and put it under the bus. scooters MUST BE FOLDABLE. otherwise they will not take you. went out 2 miles to nugget falls. wonderful site. great photos. i probably could have done the helicopter and raft excursion but im afraid of heights. went thru the towns w/o any problem including the wood slated walkways. there is nothing to fear but fear itself. so give it a try. you didnt spend all that money to sit on the ship. enjoy!
as for ncl bliss itself. i cannot say enough about the service or accommodations on this ship. i saw a waiter go over to a man and cut up his meat. even though this person was with his family and his wife was sitting right next to him. staff at the buffet would ask if i needed a table or if they could get something for me because i was in the scooter. they would ask if i needed assistance with an elevator. embarkation was wonderful. disembarkation in victoria was a bit annoying but then again the staff/crew handled it the best they could and even brought me down a "secret" elevator. the food was great. entertainment at all levels was wonderful. a cruise is what you make of it. we sat quietly in the observation deck reading & playing a game or two. we went to the comics and different bands, and saw havana and jersey boys, played bingo and daily games. its certainly what you make of it. sit like a bump on a log and you'll not enjoy yourself. i have been on other cruises. ncl was by far the best we have been on. a shout out to the maitre d in manhattan who made sure i had my cappuccino in a glass. even though he gave me his card, im sorry i misplaced it.
my only complaint was at seattle airport. SMS & Sons Int'l. i did not pick up my luggage at the airport to board flight to nyc. jason who is the 'DIRECTOR' was a rude, nasty, arrogant person. even if i was wrong, he deals w/the public and should be able to control himself, which he cannot. how SMS has this person working for them amazes me and is a loose cannon. cant tell me i am the only one who left their luggage and he tells me 'the fact that you left your luggage @ the airport tells me something about you." i was furious w/this comment and made him know it. glad i spoke w/him after the cruise as he did not ruin it. but management should certainly pay attention to him. Read Less

Seven days on the Round trip Seattle to Alaska , inside passage! numerous activities for grandchildren, They loved the Go Karts, waterslides, variety of food options. The Haven for us. We loved unlimited bar, 24 hour butler, Private escort to excursions, embarkation and disembarking. Food.was amazing! Haven restaurant had beautiful presentation and service was impeccable. The kids loved the waffles. We enjoyed eggs Benedict and the smoked salmon frittata. The filet and prawns and lamb at dinner we favorites. Our butler delivered coffee and juice each morning and afternoon tapas. Each day we had a complimentary bottle of champagne. The excursion were well organized and lots of variety. We loved the Skagway Railway, Sled Dog and puppies! Ketchikan we saw a Lumberjack Show outside but undercover with heat lamps. The Saxman Native Village had a dance presentation as well as Totem Pole Craving demonstration. The village have many Totom Poles and our guide explained the history and meaning. In Juneau we went on the Mendenhall Glacier Explorer. Enjoyed the visitor center and great hike with views of the glacier and waterfall.Cruising Glacier Bay for the day was amazing. The ship circled the bay so so everyone had up close views. Glacier Bay Ranger came aboard for informative narrative as well as Junior Ranger Program. In Ketchikan our son and daughter went Ziplining. Challenging with expert instruction.In Victoria my son and I did city sunset tour and Escape Room. The Haven was beyond, beyond! Private dining, pool, bar, lounge,observation deck. Beyond pampering! Loved the spa thermal suite with wave tub and waterfall, snow grotto and steam and salt room. The heated lounges were so relaxing!The men’s facial and shave was excellent! Read Less

I chose this cruise because I had never been to Alaska and since I’m an NCL Latitudes member I was excited to experience the newest ship in the fleet that was built especially for Alaska. I persuaded a friend who lives in Seattle to go ... Read More

I chose this cruise because I had never been to Alaska and since I’m an NCL Latitudes member I was excited to experience the newest ship in the fleet that was built especially for Alaska. I persuaded a friend who lives in Seattle to go with me although she was reluctant as she had only cruised once before, years ago before the stabilizers, and had gotten seasick. I’m not sure she believed me when I told her how smooth it would likely be.
Embarkation and disembarkation were an unbelievable breeze….the best I’ve every experienced….NCL has this people moving thing down pat. When we embarked we immediately went to The Local and had lunch. By the time we were done, our bags were at our stateroom door.
I very carefully chose our cabin because I knew that the size of the ship and the number of passengers would irritate my friend. It couldn’t have turned out better for us. I chose a Spa Balcony cabin that was directly under the spa so it was not noisy. We were on the same deck as the Observation Lounge and also had our own private balcony. Up one flight of steps and we were in the spa (passes were included in our category) or we could go to the buffet for a quick bite to eat. The Observation Deck also had light breakfast and lunch and an awesome bar. All those venues had great ocean views and with the exception of the buffet, a good amount of privacy. I love the spa and because a limited number of passes are sold, I never had to wait for a heated lounger. Even the Observation Lounge was pretty uncrowded when we were there….usually early in the morning or late at night. We did go to activities in other areas of the ship but the point is, we wouldn’t have had to…..everything we needed and wanted was right on those 2 decks. So for those who don’t like the big ship experience (and I see a lot of those complaints in these reviews) this is what I would recommend. Also, book everything you want to do as soon as NCL will let you….you can always cancel and other cruisers will be happy to fill your slot but there are many things that fill up fast and then you’re probably out of luck.
The cabin itself was well laid out (beds by the balcony rather than the closet) and was plenty of room for 2 people, although no one could call it spacious. I can’t imagine having 3 in a room like this although it is advertised to accommodate 3, maybe a couple and a small child.
We really enjoyed the beverage package. It was fun to try drinks we’d never had before and I discovered I like White Russians. The first time I ordered it the bartender made it with cream (as it is supposed to be) and it was wonderful but every subsequent bartender told me they only had milk. So I’d go to the coffee bar and get half and half and hand it to them. I don’t think I was very popular with the bartenders…lol. Anyway I would suggest that NCL make cream available behind all the bars. Never had a problem getting a bartenders attention or a drink in a timely manner.
The dining package was fabulous too. We did Cagney’s, Teppanyaki, and La Cucina. The food was fantastic in all of them. One small complaint about Teppanyaki is I think they sit too many people at a table. We were the last to arrive for our table and I was seated on the end by a woman who was left handed. I didn’t notice until we were well into the meal or I would have requested a change of seating because her elbow was in my space the entire meal.
We only did 2 shore excursions, the rail trip in Skagway and the Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan. They were OK. I wished I had done something where we could see wildlife. I had thought we would see some in Glacier Bay but we didn’t. My fault for not doing more research. We did see a lot of humpback whales though and I was surprised that they came so close to the ship. They would breach and blow through their blowholes….quite an experience….I had only ever seen orcas before.
The only difficulty we had on this cruise was when we were in Glacier Bay. They had park rangers come on the boat and talk about the glaciers. They said if you go outside you can hear the glaciers, especially if they are calving. We went out on the balcony to listen and enjoy the serenity only to find that one of the ship’s photographers was 3 decks below us, taking pictures and yelling at his subjects to get them in certain poses and reactions. I called guest services to complain and have him stop. Unfortunately I had to make 3 calls before it stopped and then we think they only moved him to the other side of the ship but we were glad to no longer have him disrupting our enjoyment. Management sent us some sweet treats to apologize and we were happy again.
All in all a great cruise and I am doing this ship again in October on the Mexican Riviera. Read Less

The Bliss is amazing. The food was the best I ever had on a cruise. The many dining and entertainment venues were sufficient to keep you busy at every moment. Norwegian never misses an opportunity to sell, sell, sell. They are always ... Read More

The Bliss is amazing. The food was the best I ever had on a cruise. The many dining and entertainment venues were sufficient to keep you busy at every moment. Norwegian never misses an opportunity to sell, sell, sell. They are always pushing a product, service, a future cruise, or something that will make them more profitable.
The onboard entertainment was quite good, and the production of Jersey Boys rivals the Las Vegas production for talent and quality. Comedians were good, Lounge singers were enjoyable. Production shows are well worthwhile.
A large number of both complimentary and upcharge restaurants and specialty food venues line the various decks of the ship. The Waterfront (outside on Deck 8) is especially enjoyable. It has many areas for outside dining and resting while taking in the passing views of the ocean, land masses, and other ships. Also a good place to view migrating whales on the Alaska voyage. For nippy weather, there are overhead bar type heaters to take the chill off. This is a very pleasant facet of the ship.
The observation lounge is remarkable with a semi circular view of the outside of the ship and concurrent activities. A great place the relax, or read, or grab a quick snack. a continental breakfast, a coffee, tea, or juice. There is a full service bar within the lounge for your enjoyment, and frequently a person playing background music on a piano.
The ship has the finest buffet I have ever experienced on a ship, and it is on par with the better Las Vegas Strip hotels. Each night was a food themed night that featured Alaskan Seafood, or Bar-B- Que, or Steak night, and other interesting offerings. Other features include Salad Bar, Hot Dog and Burger area, Indian Food, and Desserts, among others. The Desserts were unbelievably good and many (if not all) were home made, Truly spectacular.
The ship was the star of the cruise, and I would recommend any trip on the Bliss for the pure joy of sailing on her.
The ship has a Go-Cart track, a miniature golf course, several water slides, an outdoor big screen by the pool for broadcasting sporting events and sales promos for Norwegian. Read Less

The Norwegian Bliss was chosen for a 'Cousin's Reunion' by our son two years ago. The Bliss was just beginning to be built. The pre-cruise planning and offers were all coordinated well and some 32 members of the family ... Read More

The Norwegian Bliss was chosen for a 'Cousin's Reunion' by our son two years ago. The Bliss was just beginning to be built. The pre-cruise planning and offers were all coordinated well and some 32 members of the family expressed early interest in being on board. Sailing found 14 of us present and each and every one had a wonderful time abroad The Bliss. Varied activities on board as well as shore excursions - whether ship sponsored or individually decided - allowed time together and apart, active or not. Four dinners together were part of the pre-cruise planning and allowed together time. Weather cooperated and the 7 day time frame allowed working younger members of the family to attend this event.
Of special note and appreciation was the presence and excellent cuisine of "A Taste of India" in the Garden Cafe. I grew up in India and the opportunity to interact with and use my rusty Hindi with the Chefs and their staff as well as with other Garden Cafe, specialty restaurant & Security staff was heartwarming. To receive a special dessert in our cabin from the Executive Chef, Roger Deepak Gavankar, was a real surprise that was shared with the entire family group that evening after dinner and Jersey Boys.
A planned family get together, came together exquisitely thanks to the coordination and planning and design of The Norwegian Bliss. Thank you! Read Less

We live in Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. We would see the beautiful NCL Bliss come and go every week. We wanted to see what it was like onboard. It was wonderful.
Embarkation was a breeze - just a few minutes and we were on the ... Read More

We live in Seattle with a view of Elliott Bay. We would see the beautiful NCL Bliss come and go every week. We wanted to see what it was like onboard. It was wonderful.
Embarkation was a breeze - just a few minutes and we were on the ship. We dined at Cagney's Steak House on the first night and the double pork chop was great!! So was the service. We bought the roving photographer's picture, too.
After that we tried all of the comlimentary restaurants but preferred Savor on the port side of the ship for lunch and dinners. We also tried "Q" the western restaurant. It was a good try but not exactly like a real Texas Smokehouse - because, they did not start smoking the meat in the early morning and then serve it several hours later. Maybe they did not have a meat smoker on board. So it was a Scandinavian version of a Texas barb. Four good sauces. Nice deserts. We took the "insider's tour" of the ship and saw how the costumes and wigs were set up back stage - amazing.
We enjoyed both shows - I Havana! and Jersey Boys.
I have a new appreciation for the Atrium - it was like a family room at home with all sorts of games, and movies, and music. It was comfortable and entertaining. I mean, when did you last play charades? It is still a fun to play Charades after all these years.
The Thermal Spa was really relaxing and bubbly.We rarely had to wait for an elevator and, if so, we usually got on the second one to arrive. The elevator ride was a nice way to meet folks too.
We did the free activities and chose not to be drinkers so there was no sticker shock at the end of the cruise.We had a very enjoyable trip - NCL knows how to make a vacation wonderful!!! Read Less

I had read about this ship 6 months ago and what sparked my interest was that this very large new innovative ship would be departing for 7 day Alaska cruises from Seattle, WA., where my son lives and that I would be visiting in August . So ... Read More

I had read about this ship 6 months ago and what sparked my interest was that this very large new innovative ship would be departing for 7 day Alaska cruises from Seattle, WA., where my son lives and that I would be visiting in August . So my husband and I booked it !
The observation deck is the best part of the ship , with an enormous space dedicated to viewing , in this case , the beautiful Alaska scenery and glaciers. There are numerous seating options and endless windows for a relaxing view,
We loved the numerous dining options both complimentary and specialty .We chose a 3 meal prepaid dining package and were not disappointed once . Our favorite was Ocean Blue . If you love freash oysters and seafood do not pass up the opportunity to dine there ,
Our other specialty restaurants were also Le Bistro, and Teppenayki Grill . Not disappointed in either of them . Le Bistro was excellent !
I was pleasantly surprised in the quality of the food, since the one other NCL cruise we had taken , the food was terrible . I would recommend this ship for quality service , dining , and great public areas, but the cabins are tiny . Read Less

We chose this boat because it is a brand new ship, started sailing just two months prior, and we loved the itinerary. The stops were great, we loved the excursions chosen, food was good, service was great, and we took full advantage of ... Read More

We chose this boat because it is a brand new ship, started sailing just two months prior, and we loved the itinerary. The stops were great, we loved the excursions chosen, food was good, service was great, and we took full advantage of the drink package. We enjoyed the shows, bands, live music, trivia, and hot tubs. I was surprised there was no lobster served in the dining room - first cruise I have been on where this was not on the menu. However, the food was food, and we would sail on this boat again.
Our first stop was Ketchikan where we did off road vehicles through the woods. This was a great tour. We wish it would have been longer. It was about twenty minutes out and twenty minutes back, but it was so nice to be outside. We spotted a mother bear and two cubs which is a rarity. We felt really blessed to have seen them out in the woods. The tour guides were kind, and informative.
Our second stop was Juneau where we decided to go whale watching. We chose Alaska Galore Tours because they had small boats. We were on a boat that held 15 or so along with a boat captain and tour guide. We learned so much, and saw 5-6 whales turning in the water about 15-20 times. Unfortunately, it was raining, but we still would have chosen this tour again.
We were supposed to go by Sawyer Glacier, but the weather was too bad as it was very cloudy and icy. We still saw some beautiful scenery from the boat, and it was a lovely evening on the balcony.
Finally, our last day was in Skagway. My husband and father-in-law went on a helicopter to walk around on the glacier. it was short, 20 minute ride out and 20 minutes back with about half an hours walking around and learning about the glacier. We would recommend. We also did the train ride up the mountain. It was informative, beautiful, and again, we would do this same tour all over again.
The bands at night were great, especially the guy in the piano bar. He was funny and incredibly entertaining. My in-laws loved Jersey Boys, the broadway show.
We would absolutely sail on Norwegian and on this same boat again. Read Less

This was a cruise for nine people in our party to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. We couldn’t have picked a better cruise line or ship! What a fabulous surprise! The amenities, food and ship employees and service, as well as ... Read More

This was a cruise for nine people in our party to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. We couldn’t have picked a better cruise line or ship! What a fabulous surprise! The amenities, food and ship employees and service, as well as the surroundings was 5 Star all the way!
As this was my first cruise, I didn’t have anything to compare to but I must say I’ll probably have a much higher standard to gauge any other cruise line or ship for that matter.
I was so spoiled by the service, quality of the food and things to do, that it is hard to come back to the real world! And it makes me want to go on another cruise in the next year or so. We were so well treated and I got to meet so many new people from around the world. The shows, art work, pools, food, observation deck, lounges, laser tag, go cart race track (who thinks these things up?!); whatever you wanted to experience was there.
One of my most favorite things was learning about the artist who painted the ship (Wyland!); his conservation efforts, paintings and murals and watched his channel when in the stateroom every chance I could get! This man and artist is AMAZING! Amazing and so talented!
My next cruise will probably be on the Bliss just because of this artist!! Read Less